bait

thumb|A piece of cheese used as bait on a [[mousetrap]] Bait is any appetizing substance (e.g. food) used to attract prey when hunting or fishing, most commonly in the form of trapping (e.g. mousetrap and bird trap), ambushing (e.g. from a hunting blind) and angling.

Baiting is a ubiquitous practice in both recreational (especially angling) and commercial fishing, but the use of live bait can be deemed illegal under certain fisheries law and local jurisdictions. For hunting, however, baiting can often be controversial as it violates the principles of fair chase, although it is still a commonly accepted practice in varmint hunting, culling and pest control.